Byzantine underground city and cistern unearthed in Talas

An underground city and cistern dating to the Byzantine era have been discovered at the foot of Mt. Ali in the Talas district of Kayseri.

An underground city and cistern dating to the Byzantine era have been discovered at the foot of Mt. Ali in the Talas district of Kayseri.

Talas Mayor Rıfat Yıldrım said archaeologists have so far unearthed 300 meters of the underground city and that the cistern is estimated to be 60 meters in length and 5 meters wide.

Noting that they had initiated excavations following reports of the existence of a city and cistern, Yıldırım said: We have unearthed parts of the underground city but must be very careful not to cause any damage. We have informed the Culture and Tourism Ministry, and studies will be initiated here in line with a project to be drawn up by the ministry.

Archaeologist Gürcan Samet said they estimated the underground city and cistern to be around 1,300 years old. We have identified two entrances and unearthed 300 meters. We think it extends beyond Kayseri's city center and the Gesi district. The walls and the cistern were made of horasan plaster [a mortar used during the Ottoman period composed of sand, lime, egg yolk and tar] and the water is of high quality.